Sad News
Bloggers sometimes die. Pass on. Move on. However you like to think of the loss. And maybe you’ve already heard that Erik Ivan James, of Inside the Gazebo, has passed on. He hasn’t blogged for two years, and a friend of his just emailed me. Erik and I exchanged a few emails last year. He was kind and welcoming way back when I first started blogging as spyscribbler. Seemed such a gentle and true soul.
There are services out there that will post notices to social media, post a last blog, etc., should you die.
But we have no rites for mourning our online friends, no funerals, no last words, no sermons, no nothing. Just… gone. So I’m at a loss, sitting here. I want to say goodbye. I wish I could just thank him for being him, for being around, for sharing himself with us.
When I go, I want to thank you guys for being my friends, for giving me such amazing support during the last two crazy when Glenn’s been working in Alaska and my life has gone through big, major changes.
Well, anyway. That’s the post for today. 
If you don’t know Erik, the archives of his blog are a wonderful read.
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
That is sad. I’m sorry for your loss.
Puts things in perspective, eh?
It does, certainly, Melanie!
That’s so sad. It does make you wonder what happens to people who stop blogging. Makes you worry about if everything is alright in their world. sigh. I’m sorry to hear the news.
Totally, Ello! They just disappear, and you’d never know if something happened to them.
I know I often wonder about the cyper-peeps met along blogtopia road. We’ve learned their philosophies, maybe found out what they do for a living, but how do we know when they are gone? Some people go weeks without visiting blogs, but I wonder how many think that perhaps that person has passed on if we don’t see their names in an obituary.
*sigh* I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I think your dedicating a blog to him is a very nice tribute.
Cyber-relationships are odd that way, Kath. I mean, we need to control the time we spend on the internet, but I miss my friends when they don’t blog or pop on Facebook, LOL. Such a strange society we have, now. It’ll be fascinating to see what rituals our online society will create.
That’s very sad. I really value your friendship, Natasha. I just wanted to say that before, well, ugh! A zombie! I knew it was coming! Back, evil hell spawn. Back!
Me too, Robin! Zombies? Oh no! Oh no!
Natasha, I’m sorry your friend has passed. It is sad when you don’t have a chance to say goodbye. That makes it harder.
And I’m glad for your friendship, too!
Edie, I didn’t know him that well, but it was just sad and startling. You wish you had spent more time, said one last how-are-you-doing.
Oh, that is so sad! I did know who he was (at least, blogwise) and I’m sorry to hear this.
You’re right – it is hard even though we may only know the person via the computer. I can think of two right now that I’ve been worried about for some time. One was very ill and the other going through some hard personal issues, and neither has blogged for several months nor responded to posts or email. I just hope they are all right and taking care of themselves.
Kate, I’m surprised that more of my blog friends don’t know him. It’s odd how our personal blogospheres morph into new circles, without us realizing it.
You know what? When I wrote my comment I thought it was amusing, and was trying to cheer you up, but reading it today, I find it insensitive and stupid. I officially take it back. Here’s my new comment:
I’m really sorry about your bloggy friend, Natasha. I’ll go read his archived posts in your honor.
LOL, Robin. No worries! What better time to make me laugh?